Automatic blank-feeding mechanism for blank-gumming machines.



M. E. PETERS, G. H. FATH & A. F. MILLER. AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BLANK cummme MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-25. l9l6.

Patented July 31, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET1 M. E. PETERS, G. H. FATH If; A. F. MILLER. AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BLANK GUMMING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25. I915.

1,235,501. Patented July 31, 191?.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

M. E. PETERS, G. H. FATH & A. F. MILLER.

AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR BLANK GUMMING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT'ZEI. I916.

Patented July 31, 1917.

4 $HEETS-SHEET 4.

n1) s'ras Pr mvnmn E. m5, GIOGE H. RATE, AND ALBERT F. MILLER, 01' DENVER, com- ASSIIGHORS -'.|.0 rm PETERS PATENT BIGHIE COMIPAHY, 05' DENVER, com- EADO, A MIGRATION 0!? CMORABB.

AUTOMATIC BLANK-FEEDING IEGHANISM FOR BLANK-EWING MACHINR fipeciflcatlon of Letters Patent.

Fatented J uly 31, 1917.

Application filed September 25, 19%. Serial 110. 1%,.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Mnnvnmn E. Pnrnns, Gnome H. Fern, and ALBERT F. MILLER, citizens of the United States of America, residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Automatic Blank-Feeding Mechanism for Blank-(drumming Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in automatic blank feeding machines for blank gumming machines; and the objects of our invention are:

First, to provide an automatic paper blank feeding device in which three independent automatically operating mechanisms are employed that operate in quick successive order to first raise the forward portion of the top blank from a stack of blanks; second, to move a thin separating medium between the lifted top blank and the next blank in the stack of blanks and thus separate the top blank from the blank and stack of blanks below it; and third, to provide a pneumatically operating means of gripping and lifting the top separated blank from its separating medium; and

Second, to provide a positively operating high speed blank feeding mechanism for blank gumming machines, that will feed paper blanks three to four times faster, to whatever use they may be put, than the blank feeding mechanisms at present in use.

We attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a blank gumming machine embodying our improved blank feeding mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. p 7

Fig. 3 is a central, vertical, longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Fig. 4. is a plan view thereof, parts being omitted for clearer illustration.

' Fig. 5 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the suction mechanism for lifting the forward edge of the top the separated blank and carryin it forward to the feedro'ller; g

Fig. 8 Isa vertical, sectional view of one of the suctlon cups shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation illustrating the plate which is slid between the separated blank and the stack of blanks, and mechanlsm for supporting and actuating the same. Flg. 10 is a slde elevation illustrating the means for freeing the separated blanks from the suction blank lifting segments. And

Fig. 11 is a side view of a back guide used in connection with narrow blanks.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: The numeral 1 indicates the bed plate, and 2 and 3 the side members of a frame, which supports the improved blank feeding mechanism and which, in the present instance, forms the forward portion of the frame of a blank gumming machine similar to that illustrated in a pending application filed by us jointly on the 25th day of May, 1915, Serial No. 30471.

In the side members 2 and 3 of the frame is mounted a power driven shaft 4, one end of which extends beyond the side 2, and is provided with a worm gear 5, which meshes with a worm pinion 6, on a driving shaft 7, by which rotation is imparted to the shaft 4.

The shaft has rigidly secured thereoncam disks 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, which operate mechanism tobe presently described. In the forward end portions of the side members of the frame are formed vertical slideways 13, in which are mounted slides 14 on the opposite ends of a table 15, which is adapted to hold a stack of blanks, either labels or such as are used for covering paste board boxes. This table is supported upon a pair of threaded rods 16, which pass through threaded bushings in the end portions of the table, and are rotatably mounted, at their lower ends, in bearings 17 formed on the side members of the frame. The lower ends of the rods 16 are provided with bevel gears 18, which mesh with 'bevel pinions 19, on a horizontal shaft 20, which is mounted in the side members of the frame. The table 15 is adapted to be automatically raised as the blanks are successively removed and conveyed away from the stack by the blank feeding mechanism, and this upward movement is intermittent, and occ r a te th rem a of each eight or,

ten hlanks from the stack in order that the top blank on the stack may always be in position to be engaged by the blank lifting means of the blank feeding mechanism. The table is also adapted to be raised and lowered manually when desired, and these Operations are eiiected in the following manner: One end of the shaft 20 extends beyond the side member 3, and has rigidly mounted thereon a ratchet wheel 21, and adjoining this ratchet wheel a hub 22 is loosely mounted on the shaft, and this hub has a depending arm 23, in which is loosely mounted a pin 24:, on one end of which is rigidly mounted a pawl 25,,which is adapted to engage intermittently with the ratchet wheel 21. The end of the pawl normally rests on a disk, 26, which isloosely mounted on the shaft 20, and rests against one side of thejratchet wheel 21, the disk 26 being of slightly greater diameter than the ratchet wheel, The disk 26 has a gap or recess 27 in its circumferential edge equal in length .to the space occupied by five or six teeth on the ratchet wheel, and when the disk is given a partial rotation in'a manner to be hereinafter described, its recess 27 permits the pawl to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and as the pawl has a continuous swinging movement, as will be explained, the ratchet wheel and shaft 20, are thereby turned, together with the bevel pinions 19 thereon, which turn the bevel gears 18 on the ends of the threaded rods 16, and the said rods are thus given a rotation suihcient to raise the table a distance equal to the height represented by the eight or ten blanks removed from the stack. The pin 24, upon which the pawl 25 is mounted, extends beyond the arm 23 and a collar is secured on its outer end. A coil spring 28 surrounds the pin, and one end of said spring is secured in an aperture in the collar, and the other end thereof in an aperture in the arm 23, and this spring exerts a torsional tension on the pin 24, which holds the pawl 25 in engagement with the edge or" the disk 26 until the recess inthe said disk permits the pawl to engage the ratchet wheel as previously described. A-

rod 29 is pivotally secured at its lower end to the disk 26, at a point adjacent to its edge and slightly below its horizontal center line, and the upper end of this rod is pivotally. secured to an arm 30 on a short shaft 31, which is mounted in the adjacent side member of the frame. Upon the opposite end of this shaft is mounted an arm 32, the free end of which is adapted tobe" depressed by thelower end of a depending pin 33, which 'is carried. by one of the hinged-supports which carry the blank lift- .ing suction device, as will be hereinafter de-' scribed.

The pawl supporting arm 23 is oscillated in the following manner: To the lower end of the arm 23 is pivotally secured one end of a connecting rod 34, the opposite end of which is pivotally secured to one end of a bell crank form of lever 35, which is secured upon one end of a short shaft 36, V

which is mounted in the adjacent side member 3 of the frame. The other end of the shaft 36 carries an arm 37, upon the, free end of which is mounted a roller 38, which enters a cam groove on one side of the disk 12, which imparts a rocking movement to the lever 35, which, through the rod 3%, im-

parts an oscillating movement to the arm 23 and pawl 25, which intermittently engages the ratchet wheel 21, as previously described. To the other end of the-lever is pivotally secured the lower end of a connecting rod 39, the upper end of which is pivotally secured to the free end of an arm 40, which is rigidly mounted on the adjacentoend of a rock shaft d1, which is mounted in the side members of the frame. Upon theshaft 41 and adjacent to its ends are rigidly secured a pair of depending arms 42, the free ends of which are connected to links 43, the opposite ends of which are pivotally connected to ears formed on slide blocks 44; which are mounted onhorizontal slideway bars 45, which are bolted at each end to horizontal supports 46, which are pivotally secured at their rear ends to lugs a? formed on the vertical edges of the side members of the frame. The supports 46 arein the nature of bars having inwardly extending lateral bosses 48 on their forward ends and adjacent to their rear ends,

to which the slideway bars 45 are secured.

This construction leaves a space between the supports46 and the bars 45, which affords room for caps 49, by which the slide blocks l4: are held upon the bars 45,'the said slide blocks being channel shaped in crosssection to fit with a sliding movementjon-the bars 45, as will beunderstood by reference to Fig. 5. c The under edge of each supportingbar 46 is formed with an inwardly extendinghoried the; ends ofa shaft 53, having an axial 3 short hubs 52, in which are rotatably mount- 7 passage 54, which extends from one end of the same to a point a short distance beyond its longitudinal center. 'T'he outer end of the passage 54 communicates with a chainher in the surrounding hub, and the hub has a nipple which communicateswith the chamber and to which one end of a pipe 56 is connected, the other end of which connects with a suitable vacuum pump 57 which is mounted upon the bed plate of the frame. This pump is provided with a "piston and piston rod 58, to which rod the lower end of a lever 59 is pivotally connected. The upper end of this lever is mounted on a shaft 60, which is mounted in the side members of the frame. The lever 59 carries a rollerintermediate of its length, which enters a cam groove on the adjacent side of the disk 10,

by which the lever is rocked to actuate the rod 58 and its piston, whereby air is exhausted in the passage 54 of the shaft 53 for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

To the end ortions of the shaft 53, adjoining the hu s 52,- are secured gear wheels 61, which mesh with the toothed bars 51, and centrally of the length of the shaft 53 is rigidly secured a sleeve 62, .on the opposite ends of which are formed segments .63, which are near enough together to rest upon the shortest blank for which the machine is set. A passage 64 is formed in each of these segments adjacent to one of its straight edges, which registers with a hole 65 in the shaft, which holes communicate with the passage 54 in the said shaft. These segments constitute the blank edge lifting elements of the blank feeding mechanism, or the elements which lift and roll back the forward edge of a blank, preparatory to its separation from the stack of blanks, and at the beginning of their blank lifting movement they stand in the position shown in Figs. 3, 5, and 6, their suction apertures being vertically disposed, and the forward ends of the curved faces of the segments resting squarely upon the top blank of the stack. Thus, when the air in the pas sage 54 of the shaft 53 is exhausted in the manner previously described, the forward portion of the blank is caught and held by suction to the segments, and the slide blocks 44 are moved rearward along the slideway bars 45 through their connection with the links 43, arms 42, shaft 41, arm 40, connecting rod 39, and cam-operated lever 35. As the slide blocks move rearward the gear wheels 61, which mesh with the toothed bars 51 are thereby given a combined rolling and rotating motion as well as the shaft 53 upon which they are rigidly mounted, and the segments 63, which are also rigidly mounted on the said shaft. 7

As the segments rotate in .the direction of the arrow and move rearward simultaneously, the forward edge of the top blank of the stack is lifted and turned slightly backward to permit th e insertion between it and the next adjoining blank, of a separator plate which is arranged and operated as follows: I

A vertical guide plate 66 is bolted to the side members 2 and 3 in position to touch or nearly touch the adjacent edge of thev stack supporting table 15, and this guide plate holds the adjoining face of the stack of blanks in true vertical position as th table is automaticall fed upward.

The portion of the guide plate against which the stack rests is approximatel the width of the longest blank for whic the machine is set, and therefore of less width than the space between the side members 2 and3, but the part of the guide plate which is bolted to the side members is in the form of a channel bar 67, which forms an integral -part of the plate and is provided with closed formshown in Figs. 3 and 9. The upper portions of these brackets terminate in horizontal slideways 69, which are on a level with the upper edge of the guide plate. The lower portions of these brackets terminate in depending arms 70, in which is mounted a shaft 71, upon which are rigidly secured upright arms 72, the upper ends of which are connected by links 73, with slide blocks 74=which are mounted in the slideways 69. The opposing edges of the blocks 74 are formed with horizontal slits, in which are secured the opposite edge portions of a thin horizontal plate 75, the forward edge portion of which normally rests upon the up per edge of the guide plate 66, as shown in Fig. 3.- The shaft 71 is provided centrally of its length with a short arm 76,

having a bifurcated free end in which is pivotally secured the upper end of a connecting rod 77 the lower end of which is pivotally connected to the free end of a lever 78, which is loosely mounted on a shaft 79, which is supported in bearings in the side members of the frame. The lever 78 has a dependin portion 80 provided with a roller 81, whic ferential edge of the cam disk 9, which edge has a cam portion 82. The roller 81 is held in contact with the edge of the disk 10 by a coil spring 83, one end of which is secured to the lever 78, and its other end is secured to a shaft 84 which is mounted in hearings in the side members of the frame.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the highest portion of the disk 9 passes rests upon the circum-' under the roller 81, the arm 78 is raised and the shaft 71 is thereby rocked through the medium of the connecting rod 77 and arm 76, and the arms 72 on the said shaft 71 throw the separator plate 75 forward, and

I blanks, and thus separates the topmost blank from the next biank beneath it. When the forward edge of the blank has been rolled back far enough for the purpose required, the vacuum in the passage 5t of the shaft 53 is automatically broken, thereby releasing the forward edge of the blank, and the blank is then ready to be moved forward to a feed roller A in a manner and by mechanism which will now be described, at which time-the shaft 53 has been rolled back to the limit of its rearward movement, and the suction segments stand in a position diametrically opposite 'to that they occupied at the beginning of their blank gripping movement.

The upper ends of the side members of the frame are connected by a horizontal cross bar 85, and a shaft 30 is mounted in the upper end portion of the side members adjacent to the bar 83. Upon the Central portion of the shaft 80 is mounted a circular housing 87, which is closed by a cap plate 88. and the housing is provided with an integral bracket having a plate 89 which is bolted to the under side of the cross bar 85. thus holding the housing against either lateral or rotary movement. lVithin the housing and upon the shaft 86 is rigidly mounted a gear wheel 80, and the bottom portion of the housing and its cap plate are formed with a horizontal slideway 90 in which is supported a rack bar 91, the teeth of which mesh with'the gear wheel 89', and the gear wheel is rotated to reciprocate the said rack bar, for a purpose hereinafter explained, in thefollowing manner: One end of the shaft 86 passes through the side 2 of the frame and has rigidly mounted thereon a pinion 92, which meshes with a segment gear 93 on a lever 94:, which is pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends upon a stud secured in the adjacent side member 2. The free end of the lever 94: is pivotally secured to the upper end of a connecting rod 95, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to the free end of a lever 96, which is rigidly secured upon one end of a stub shaft 97 which is mounted in a bearing in the adjacent side of the frame. An arm 98 is rigidly secured upon the opposite end of the stub shaft, and the free end of this arm carries a roller 99 which enters a cam groove on the adjacent side of the cam disk 8. Thus movement is imparted by the earn 8, through the arms 98, 96 and connecting rod 95, to the lever 94 and its segment 98, which meshes with the pinion 92 on the shaft 86, by which the gear 89 is rotated to reciprocate the rack bar 91.

Upon the forward end of the rack bar 91 is bolted a vertical standard 100 having a slideway therein in which is mounted a slide block 101, the upper end of which is bifurcated and has mounted therein a roller 102. Upon the lower end of the block is secured a plate 103, which extends slightly beyond each side of the standard 100, and to each blanks which are fed to the machine. This bar is provided with slots 107 which extend from near the ends of the bar to points adjacent to the sides of the standard 100. Upon this bar are adj ustably mounted a pair of suction devices C, each of which comprises an inverted cupshaped member 108,

the rim of which is beveled upward from the periphery of the cup, as shown in Fig. 8. Withinthis cup is tightly fitted a thim ble. 109, having a flange 110 upon its lower end, which is beveled to correspond to the beveled rim of the cup. Between the beveled flange of the thimble and the'beveled rim of the cup is clamped a soft rubber washer 111, the diameter of which is slightly greater than the rim of the cup, and the beveled flange of the thimble and the beveled rim ofthe cup give to the washer a concavoconvex form, whereby its circumferential edge is on av lower plane than the rim of the cup, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 8.

A clip 112 is formed on the upper end of the cup beyond its axial. center, and this clip comprises a vertical plate having a central threaded aperture 113, and beads 114, which are adapted to overlie the upper and lower edges of the bar 106, and thus hold the cup in a true vertical position. The cups are held upon. the bar by bolts 115 which pass through the slots 107 and into the threaded apertures 113. By properly adjusting the cups upon the bar 106 they are adapted to engage by suction the various sizes of blanks vfrom the longest to the shortest, for which the machine is set. The closed end of the thimble 109 has an axial aperture 116 which registers with a nipple 117- which is either formed upon or screwed into the closed end of the cup. Upon each nipple is secured one end of a piece of flexible tubing 118, the opposite ends of which are secured upon the opposite members of'a three-way coupling 110. the remaining member of which is connected by a pipe 120, with a vacuum pump 121, which is secured to the bed plate of the frame. This pump is provided with a piston having a rod 122, which is connected to the lower end of a lever 123, which is mounted at its upper end on the shaft 60. The lever 123 is provided intermediate of its ends with a roller that enters a cam groove on the opposite side of the cam disk 10 maaeoi u from the lever 59, and thus the cam operates the lever 123 which draws on the piston rod 122 and its piston, thereby exhaustingthe air in the thimble 109, which causes the blank to adhere to the bottom of the suctime members 0.

When the suction or vacuum segments 63 engage and start to roll back the forward edge portion of the topmost blank, the seporator plate 75 is moved forward under the said blank in the manner, previously described, and remains in this short period, during which period the blank is released from the segments by the breakof the vacuum therein, and theblank fa 5 out flat upon the saidseparator plate 5. The vacuum cupsO occupy the position shown in Fig. 3, when the vacuum segments 63 begin their backward rolling movement, and as they move, the cups G are also moved backward by the rack bar 91 until they stand above the forward portion of the blank, which new rests upon the separator plate 75; the cups are then depressed to engage the blank in the following manner:

The cap plate 88 of the housing 87 has a bearing lug 124 in which one end of a shaft 125 is mounted, its op 'osite end being mounted in a bearing in t B side member 2 of the frame. Upon the shaft 125, in line with the roller 1-02 of the slide block 101, is rigidly mounted a finger 126, the lower edge of which is upwardly curved at its end portion. When the vacuum cups G move back to their blank-engaging position,- the roller 102 passes beneath the finger 126 and the finger is instantly swung downward by the partial rotation of the shaft 125, and the slide block 101 is thereby depressed against the tension of the springs 104, and the vacuum members 0 areseated squarely against the forward end portion of the blank, and a vacuum is instantly thereafter formed in the cups, by which the blank is caught and held against the bottoms of the cups.-

The shaft 125 is partially rotated to swing the finger 126 to depress the block 101 in the following manner: Upon the opposite end portion of the shaft 125 from the finger 126 is rigidly mounted an arm 127, the free end of which is pivotally attached to" the upper end of a connecting rod 128,- the lower end of which is pivotally connected to the free end of a lever 129 which is rigidly mounted on the shaft 84. An arm 1-80 is also rigidly mounted on the shaft 84, and its outer end carries a roller 131, which enters a cam groove on one side of the disk 11, whereby a partial rotation is imparted to the shaft 84, by which the arm 129 is rocked and draws upon the coimectin" rod 128, which rocks the arm 127, the shag 125 and the finger 126.-

When the vacuum cups C engage the blank, in the manner before described, the

csition to a by the'vacuum cu s G, and the forward ed e portion of said lank is deposited on t e feed roller A above a row of apertures which communicate with a passage, which is connccted by a pipe with avacuum pump. A

description of the feed roller is deemed unnecessary as the same forms no part of the 7 present invention, and moreover, is fully described in a pending application for a blank and label feeding roller for blank gumming machinesfiled by us on December 22, 1915, Serial No. 68,271. Just afterthe blank starts forward to be deposited upon the feed roller, the separator plate 75 is withdrawn andthe shaft 53, with the vacuum segments 63, is again rolled'forw'a'rd so that the said segments may be in position to engage the next topmost blank, but as the rear portion of the blank just removed is still resting upon the stack, though the blank is moving forward, means are provided for raising the forward ends of the supporting bars 46, and consequently the vacuum segments, in order that the said se ents may not come in contact with the sa1d forwardly-moving blank. To this end the shaft 79, has rigidly secured thereon a depending arm 132, the free end of which carries a roller 133,- which enters a cam groove on the opposite side of the disk 12 from that which receives the roller 38 on the arm 37. -Upon the opposite end portions of the shaft 79 are also rigidly mounted levers 134, the free ends of which are connec'ted'to the lower end of links 135, the upper ends of which are connected to vertical bars 136 which are slidably mounted in suitable bearings 137 on the side members .of the frame. when the segments 63 start to move forward as before mentioned, the cam 12 through the ami132 lifts the levers 134 which, throughthe links 135, raise the bars186 a sufficient distance for the purpose required. The upper ends of the bars 136 each blank from the stack,the arms 46ha've a correspondingly lower drop, and the lower end of the pin 33,- which is carried by one of the arms 46, engages theend of the arm 32 and rocks the same, together with the arm 30, in an arc of continuously increasing length, until the upward pull on the rod 29 is sullicient to turn the disk 26 until its recess 27 permits the pawl 25 to engage and turn the ratchet wheel 21, by which the shaft 20 and its bevel pinions are turned, as well as the bevel gears 18 and the threaded rods 16, and the table 15 is thereby raised. A s the table rises, the swing of the arm 32 is shortened until the pin 33 fails to strike the end of the said arm, and at the same time there is a constant down pull on the arm 30 by a spring 3, which causes the rod 29 to move the disk 26 until its recess 27 passes beyond the pawl 25, which is then raised out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 21, by the circumferential edge of the said disk 26. Thus the table 15 is automatically and intermittently raised, until all the blanks in the stack are removed. The table can be quickly lowered to its starting point by a crank wheel 2O on the outer end of the shaft 20.

The blanks at the upper portion of the stack are held against the guide plate 66 by a stack guide 139, comprising a bar having a plurality of depending arms which engage the back of the stack. The bar is formed with a guideway 140, by which it is adjustably secured to a bar 141, which is secured to the under side of the housing 87, whereby it can be set to engage blanks of any width from the widest to the narrowest. The guide is clamped to the bar 141 by a set screw 142, as shown.

In order that the guide 139 may engage the blanks until the table reaches its highest point, and also that it may be moved forward to engage blanks that are narrower than the width of the table, the table is formed with four parallel channels 143, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, into which the depending arms on the stackguide 139 will enter, when the table nears the limit of its upward movement, as will appear by reference to Fig. 4, and these channels are of a length to permit the guide to be moved forward far enough to engage the narrowest blank for which the machine is set.

In Fig. 11 'a back guide 144 is shown, which is adapted for use in connection with the narrower blank. The form of this guide permits the shaft 53, upon which the vacuum segments 63 are mounted to moveto the limit of its rearward movement.

The blank stack is further held in a true vertical position by end guides in the form of vertical bars 145, the lower ends of which are secured to the followers 146, the upper ends of which are respectively provided with right and left hand threaded apertures through which passes a right and left hand threaded rod 14?, which is mounted in the side members oil the frame. ()no end of this rod is provided with a crank handle 148, by which the rod can be turned and the followers and guide rods moved toward and away from each other to suit the length of the blanks composing the stack. The lower ends of the followers 146 have unthrcaded holes through which passes a smooth rod 149, which is supported in the side members of the frame and which acts as a guide for the followers. The guide bars 145 pass through longitudinal slots 150 in the end portion of the table next the guide plate 66. The outer portions of these slots are covered with slide plates 151, which are designed to cover the slot and thus support the end portions of the blanks, and the bars 145 also pass through these slide plates. A plate 152 covers the central -ortion of the slot as shown. 1

In order that the blanks may be positively freed from the vacuum segments 63 after the vacuum has been broken, a bar 153 having a slot 154 is slidably mounted on one side of the base portion of the housing 87, by a bolt which passes through the said slot and into the base portion of the housing as shown by Fig. 10. The forward portion of this bar dips sulliciently to receive the shaft 53 which passes through it. The forward end of the bar 153 terminates in a yond the radius of the curved edge of the ad jacent vacuum segment. As the shaft 53 rolls backward the bar 153 also slides backward, and the vacuum segments, with the end portion of the engaged blank, rotate to a point where the vacuum is broken, and the edge portion of said blank then comes in contact with the finger 155, whereby the blank is freed from the segments.

A thin plate 156 extends from a point slightly above the edge of the guide plate 66 to a point above but close to the feed roller A, and this plate forms a support for the rear portion of the blank as it is moved forward by the vacuum cups C, and as it is caught and carried around by the said feed roller. The plate 156 is supported by posts 157, which are secured to the slideways 69 of the brackets 68, and to which the said plate is screwed.

From the, feed roller A the blank passes on to a gumming cylinder B, and thence to a suitable conveyer-not shown-whence it is delivered to a box covering machine or to any other character of a blank applying machine.

Our invention is especially adapted for feeding box covering blanks to a blank ming machine, but it is also adapts for feeding all classes of paper blanks from a stack of blanks to other characters of machines such as either printing or folding machines. And while we have illustrated the preferred construction and arrangement of our invention,-we do not wish to be limited thereby, as many changes may be made without departing from the spirit ofour invention.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A paper or a box wrapping blank feeder, comprising a table adapted to hold a stack of blanks and means including reciprocating and rotating members, each of which is provided with an air suction aperture for lifting the top blank from the stack, a reciprocating plate arran ed to move under the lifted blank, and means including flexible suction pads connected with an air suction force for gripping the top blank when on said plate and for feeding it to a receiving means.

2. A paper or a box wrapping blank feeder, comprising a table adapted to hold a stack of blanks, and means including'air suction members having a combined rolling and reciprocating movement for engaging the advance edge of the top blank and separating it from said stack, and means including a reciprocating plate movable under said lifted top blank, and flexible mouthed tubes connected with an air suction force for gripping the separated blank and for feeding it to a receiving means, and means including a reciprocating bar for stripping said blank from said suction feed.

3. A paper or box wrapping blank feeder, comprising a table adapted to hold a stack of blanks, and means including combined reciprocating and rotating blank treading pressure disks arranged to engage and lift the advance edge of the top blank and separate it from the stack, and to release said top blank at a predetermined time, and means including a reciprocating plate arranged to move under the lifted sheet and to support said lifted blank when released by said treading disks, and vertically movable air suction members for gripping the top blank when supported by said plate and for feeding it to a receiving means.

4. In a blank feeding mechanism, the combination with a table adapted to hold a stack of blanks and means for supporting and raising said table, of a top blank separating mechanism comprising rotating and reciprocating air suction blank gripping segment disks arranged to grip and rollingly lift the top blank, and means including an independent reciprocating top blank separating plate arranged to move under the lifted edge of the top blank and thus separate the top blank from the next blank below it, and means including pneumatic suction blank gripping mechanism for engaging said separated blank on said plate and for conveying it away from the stack to a predetermined point.

5. In ablank feeding mechanism, the com bination with a stack of blank supporting and lifting mechanism, ofatop blank separating and forwarding mechanism comprising rotating and reciprocating air suction blank gripping segment disks arranged to grip and rollingly lift the top blank, means including an independent reciprocating top blank separating plate arranged to move under the lifted edge of the top blank and thus separate the top blank from the next blank below it, and means including flexible aiig suction cups arranged to move down against the edge portion of said blank when on said separating plate and grip it by air suction and raise it from said plate and move it forward to a receiving means.

6. In ablank feeding mechanism, the combination with a stack of blank supporting and lifting mechanism, of a top blank separating and conveying mechanism comprising rotating and reciprocating air suction blank gripping segment disks arranged to grip and rollingly lift the top blank, means including a reciprocating top blank separating plate arranged to move under the lifted edge of the top blank, and thus separate the top blank from the next blank below it, the suction force of said disks being broken at a predetermined time to permit said blanks lifted edge to fall and rest on said separating plate, means including flexible'air suction cups arranged to move down against the edge portion of said blank when on said separating plate and grip and raise it from said plate and move it to a receiving means, and a fixed guide plate arranged adjacent to and above said separating plate for supporting the forwardly moving blank.

7. In a blank feeding mechanism, the combination with a stack of blank supporting and raising mechanism of a top blank separating and forwarding mechanism comprising rotating and reciprocating air suction blank gripping segment disks arranged to grip and rollingly lift the top blank, means including a reciprocating top blank separating plate arranged to move under the lifted edge of the top blank and thus separate the top blank from the next blank below it, the suction force in said disks being broken at a predetermined time to permit said blanks lifted edge to fall and rest on said separating plate, means including flexible air suction cups arranged to move down against the edge portionof said blank when on said separating plate and grip and raise it from said plate and move it forward, a fixed guide plate arranged adjacent to and above said separating plate for supporting the forwardly moving blank, and an air suction blank gripping feed roller adjacent to the blank delivery end of saidguide plate for receiving said blank.

8. In ablank feeding mechanism, the combination with a stack of blank supporting and raising mechanism, of a top blank separating and forwarding mechanism comprising rotating and reciprocating air suction blank gripping segment disks arranged to grip and rollingly lift the top blank, means including an independent reciprocating top blank separating plate arranged to move under the lifted edge of the top blank and thus separate the top blank from the next blank below it, the suction force in said disks being broken at a predetermined time to permit said blanks lifted edge to fall and rest on said separating plate, means including flexible air suction cups arranged to move down against the edge portion of said blank when onsaid separating plate and grip and raise it from said plate and move it forward, a fixed plate arranged adjacent to and above said separating plate which supports said forwardly moving blank, and an air suction blank gripping feed roller adjacent to the blank delivery end of said guide plate to which said air suction cups convey said blank.

9. In blank feeding mechanism for blank gumming machines, the combination of supporting and feeding mechanism for a stack of blanks and the top blank gripping and advancing mechanism, comprising a stack holding table, automatically operating vertical feeding mechanism for said table comprising actuating shafts and a step by step ratchet feed mechanism connected with said shafts for maintaining the top of the stack at a predetermined level at which several of the top blanks are within operative engaging relation to the top blank gripping and advancing mechanism, said top blank gripping and advancing means comprising reciprocating and rolling disks which are each provided with an air suction inlet aperture adapted to engage the advance edge of the top blank, an air pump for creating a vacuum in said apertures, thereby to grip a blank, and to break said vacuum to re lease said blank at a predetermined point in the rolling movements of said disks, means for actuating said disks, means for raising said disks out of blank engaging position during their forward movement,

means for separating the lifted blank from the one beneath, and means for conveying the separated blank away from the stack.

10. In. a blank feeding mechanism of the character described, the combination with a frame, a blank-holding table mounted thereon, and means for raising said table by intermittent stages, of supports hinged at one end to opposite sides of said frame, a shaft slidably and rotatably mounted on said supports, means for actuating the same, segmental suction members mounted on said shaft and connected with a vacuum pump, said members being adapted to engage, and

inseam a frame, of supports hinged at one end to the sides of said frame, slide blocks mounted on said frame, a shaft mounted in said slide blocks, segmental suction members mounted on said shaft and connected with a vacuum pump, a blank stack supporting table mounted in said frame, and means for raising said table by intermittent stages to feed the stack of blanks to said suction members, means for imparting a back and forth movement to said slide blocks whereby the forward portion of the topmost blank is caught and rolled back by said suction segments on their backward movement, a slide plate for separating the topmost blank from the one beneath and then supporting the same, said segments being adapted to release said blank after rolling back its edge, cam operated means for reciprocating said plate, vertically and horizontally reciprocating suction members which engage said separated blank and convey it away from the stack, and means for lifting said shaft supporting arms to raise the segments out of blank engaging position during their forward movement. a

12. In a blank feeding mechanism of the character described, the combination with a frame, and blank feeding and conveying mechanism supported thereby, of means for feeding a stack of blanks to said blank feeding and conveying mechanism, comprising a table slidably mounted in said frame, parallel threaded vertical rods extending through said table, having bevel gears on their lower ends, a shaft mounted in the frame having bevel pinions in mesh with said bevel gears, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a pawl on said shaft, means for rocking said pawl, and means for causing an intermittent engagement of said pawl with said ratchet wheel, whereby said table is raised in intermittent stages.

13. In a blank feeding mechanism of the character described, the combination with a frame, hinged supports therein having rolling suction members adapted to engage and roll back a blank from a stack of blanks, means for separating said rolled back blank from the one beneath it and then supporting the same, means for conveying the separated blank away from the stack and means for rocking said supports to raise said suc- 65 suction of means for supporting a stack in feeding relation to said suction members, comprising a table slidably mounted in said frame, arallel threaded rods mounted in said rame and extending through said table having bevel gears on their lower ends, a shaft mounted in said. frame having bevel pinions in mesh with said bevel gears, a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted on said shaft, a disk loosely mounted on said shaft adjoining said ratchet wheel and of slightly greater diameter, having a circumferential recess, an arm loosely mounted on said shaft having a pawl which normally rests on the edge of said disk, means for imparting a continuous rocking movement to said pawl carrying arm, against said disk, and means connected to said recessed disk and actuated by said hinged supports for intermittently imparting a partial rotation to said disk, whereby its recess permits the said pawl to engage the said ratchet wheel.

14. In a blank feeding mechanism of the character described, the combination with a frame, hinged supports therein, a shaft mounted on said supports having a rolling movement, suction members thereon adapted to engage and roll back the topmost blank of a stack on its rearward movement, and means for rocking said hinged supports to raise said suction members during their forward movement, of means for feeding a stack of blanks to said suction members in intermittent stages, comprising a table slidably mounted in said frame, threaded rods which pass through said vtable, and are mounted in said frame, said rods having bevel gears on their lower ends, a shaft mounted in said frame having bevel pinions in mesh with said bevel gears, a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted on said shaft, a disk loosely mounted on said shaft adjoining said ratchet wheel and of slightly greater diameter, and having a circumferential recess, an arm loosely mounted on said shaft and means for imparting a continuous swinging movement to the same, a spring actuated awl on said arm in normal engagement with the edge of said disk, a depending pin on one of said hinged supports, a rock arm mounted in the frame and adapted to be engaged and rocked by said pin, as the height of the stack of blanks decreases, and a rod connecting said rock arm and said disk, whereby when said rock arm isswung through an arc of sufficient length, the recess in the said disk is in position to permit the said pawl to engage the ratchet wheel.

15. In a blank feeding mechanism of the character described, the combination with a frame having a table therein adapted to support a stack of blanks, and means for raising the table by intermittent stages, of

devices mounted in said frame for a spring for holding said pawlv ing movement to said member whereby the forward portion of said blank is rolled back on the rearward movement of the suction members, a reciprocating plate for separating the rolled-back blank from the one beneath, and then supporting the same, vertically and horizontally movable suction devices for engaging and conveying the separated blank away from the stack, and means for raising the suction members out of blank engaging position on their forward move-w ment. i

16. In a blank feeding mechanismof the character described, the combination with a frame, a table mounted therein for supporting a stack of blanks, means for raising said table by intermittent stages, suction means for engaging the forward portion of the topmost blank, and means for imparting a rolling movement to said suction means, whereby the forward portion of said blank is rolled back on the rearward movement of said suction members, of means for separating said rolled-back blank from the one beneath and then supporting it, comprising brackets mounted in said frame having slide= ways therein, a separator plate mounted in said slideways, a rock shaft supported in said brackets, arms on said shaft and links connecting said arms and said plate, a lever mounted in said frame, a. rod connecting said lever and said rock shaft, a cam for operating said lever to slide said plate in one direction, a spring connected tosaid lever for retracting said late, and suction devices for engaging sai separated blank and conveying it from the stack.

17. In a blank feeding mechanism of the character described, the combination with a frame, a table mounted therein for supporting a stack of blanks, means for raising said table by intermittent stages, suction means for engaging the forward portion of the topmost blank, means for imparting a rolling movement to said suction means,

whereby the forward portion of said blank is rolled back on the rearward movement of said suction means, and means for separat- 1 ing said rolled-back blank from the one beneath it, and then supporting it, of eans for engaging said separated blank and conveying it away from the stack, comprising a slide bar mounted in said frame, suction members on the forward end of said bar, and means for normally holding said members raised above the plane of the top of the stack, means for depressing said suction members to engage the separated blank, and then releasing said members, and means for reciprocating said bar to first convey said blank away from the stack and return said suction members to a point above the stack.

18. In a blank feeding mechanism of the character described,the combination with a for engaging the forward portion of the topmost blank, means for imparting a roll-- mg movement to said suction means, whereby the forward portion of said blank is rolled back on the rearward movement or" said suction means, and means for separating said rolled-back blank from the one beneath it and then supporting it, of means for engaging said separatedblank and conveying it away from the stack, comprising a shaft, a housing mounted on said shaft, a gear Wheel in said housing on said shaft, a rack bar slidably mounted in the housing and in mesh with saidfgearwheel, a standard on the forward end'of said. bar, a block slidably mounted in. said standard, springs for normally holding saidblock at the limit of its upward movement, a bar on said block, and laterally adjustable suction members on said bar, a cam actuated finger for depressing said block to cause the suctionmembers to engage the separated blank, a gear on the end otsaid shaft, and a cam operated segment pinion in mesh with said gear, whereby said shaft isoperated and the rock .bar moved to convey the blank away from the stack, and then return the suction member to a point above the stack.

.19. In a blank feeding mechanism or the character described, the combination with a .ira ne, of a table mounted therein for supporting a stack of blanks, means for raising said table by intermittent stages, a front guideplate secured in said frame adjoining the front end of said table and of a height corresponding to the travel of said table, a

stationary bar above the highest point in the travel of the table, a back guide adjustably mounted on said bar and adapted to engagethe rearedgesof the blanks as the tableriseaand side guides in the form of laterally adjustable bars supported in said trains which extend through the forward portions of said table to the highest point of its travel. P

211, In a blank ieeding mechanism of the character described, the combination with a frame, a table mounted therein and adapted to support a stack of blanksv and means for raising saidtableby intermittent stages, of

.means for engaging and rolling back the forward portion of the top blank, comprising arms hinged at the rear ends to saidframe and provided with rack plates, slideway bars on said arms, slide blocks on said slideway bars, a shaft mounted in said said rack plates, a hub on said shaft having 7 twin segment blocks provided with passages communicating with said shaft passage, a. hose for connecting the passage opening out of the block with a vacuum pump, meanstor reciprocating said blocks, whereby a rolling movement is imparted to said shaft and segment blocks, said blocks being adapted. to engage and roll back the topmost blank on its rearward movement, means for separat+ ing the rolled-back blank from the one .beneath it and then supporting it, means for; engaging the separated blank and conveying it to a receiving point, and means for raising said arms to lift said se cuts out of blank engaging position during their forward movement.

21. he a blank feeding mechanism of the is character described, the combination with a frame, a table therein for supporting a stack of blanks, and means for raising the table ;by intermittent sta es, of a shatt,segn1ental suction members t ereon connected with a vacuum pump, means for rolling said shaft and suction members, said members being.- adapted to engage the forward portion of the top blank of the stack and roll the same back and then release it, and means for tree,

ing the released blank from the suction' members, comprising a fixed member, a bar slidably mounted thereon, the forward end of which is mounted on the shaft adjoining the suction members, and a projection on the forward end of said bar which extends,

slightly beyond the curved face of the said suction mpmbers.

ln testimony whereof we afix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

iunnvrtnn n. reruns. enonon n. rarer- ALBERT r. r/nminn.

Vitnes'ses:

G. Sasennr lllra-ao'rr, Abrams. 

